McLellan on penalty kill: ‘We don’t want them to be careful. We want them to be confident when they leave those positions’

Got caught up in the Twitter back-and-forth on Raffi Torres’s ugly hit that ended with Marian Hossa being taken off the ice on a stretcher.

Count me among those who think Torres should be finished for the post-season based on a track record that goes back at least as far as the Sharks-Oilers playoff series in April 2006 when he leveled Sharks wing Milan Michalek with a hit that also went unpunished at the time. Yeah, different rules, I know — but there still was something in the books about intent to injure that could have been applied, no?

And now, back to Sharks and Blues.

The print edition story for tomorrow looks at San Jose’s troubled penalty kill. It’s as close to Xs and Os as I generally get.

All teams try to set up boxes that block passing and shooting lanes. Some teams are more willing than others to aggressively pursue the puck carrier and Todd McLellan recognizes his approach isn’t as quick to pursue as some others.

Here’s a clip from the story that’s now linked in the right-hand column:

McLellan acknowledges that his system is less aggressive than others.

“Everybody has their own reads and jumping points,” the Sharks coach said. “Some just go and take their chances. Others are more calculated.”

And McLellan said it’s not a matter of wanting his players to be more careful about going after the puck.

“We don’t want them to be careful,” he said after I used that word in phrasing my question. “We want them to be confident when they leave those positions.”

The story also explains how McLellan also traces much of what went wrong Monday night to his team’s performance in what he describes as “critical faceoffs” – those in the offensive zone while on the power play or the defensive zone while on the penalty kill. Of those, the Sharks won only four of 11 draws.

“Thirty three percent is not going to do it,” McLellan said, noting the Blues have two big, mobile defensemen in Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Pietrangelo, who can wear out a penalty kill when they have the puck.

“And when you’re killing and you’re tired, you tend to make mistakes,” the Sharks coach said. “They pull you out of position and it’s harder to recover. The body battles are a lot tougher when you’re fatigued. Winning faceoffs and getting clears are as important as reading what they’re doing on their power play.”

*****Some comments from players about the penalty kill (and power play, too, actually) didn’t make the cut. Here’s what a few of them had to say on the topics.

Logan Couture on whether the Sharks should be more aggressive on the penalty kill:

“You’ve got to be smart when you’re a guy down out there. Obviously you want to pressure them if their back’s to you and they’re bobbling the puck, you want to pressure. But you can’t run at them. They’re too good as players and it’ll be even worse after the play. You’ve just got to be smart.”

Joe Pavelski on the difficult time the Sharks power play has setting up in the offensive zone:

“That’s kind of the way they kill. They’re aggressive. They move well as a four-man group. Our few power play goals and chances, they’ve come off of broken plays. It’s all about support and playing the game. It’s a kill where your routes aren’t going to always be there so you have to improvise and make some plays.”

Pavelski on the Sharks system and why special teams are struggling:

“We have our structure. We believe in it. It’s about what we do.
If you look, on the penalty kill or the power play, when we haven’t had success, we’re erring in some aspect. One guy’s going and the other ones aren’t supporting him. That’s what it comes down to. It’s the details – getting the clear, getting the faceoffs, all those little one-on-one battles and positioning.”

Ryane Clowe’s response when asked if drawing St. Louis may have been a mad match-up for the Sharks compared to other options:

“If we’re thinking that way, we might as well pack it in now. That’s a terrible mindset to have in the middle of a series. I didn’t think it was a bad matchup. We went in there and played a great game and won game one.

“It’s game by game. If we win the next game, you’ll probably be asking St. Louis questions about what they need to fix. That’s just how it goes.

“At times it’s frustrating on the bench, obviously, facing St. Louis because we want to create more chances. But I feel our composure is there. I don’t feel a whole lot of panic.”

Clowe on solving the St. Louis penalty kill:

“You look at the goal we scored in St. Louis. It was off a rush; last night it was off a broken play. That’s probably how a lot of them are going to be scored. There’s not going to be a lot of tic-tac-toes. There’s probably going to be maybe one shot and maybe a rebound. But whatever way we score on the power play, we’ll take it.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Do the Myth, I can’t believe there are still people here pining for Nabokov.

I LOVED Nabby, but even I knew that he didn’t have the mental fortitude to be counted on in close games. Sure he was a great, great goalie, but how many series did he ever steal for us?

If we woulda kept Kipper instead of Nabby in 2004, we would have won at least one stanley cup by now.

JB

Tom – I agree that Shanahan is a part of the problem here, no question. From the preseason through the regular season, he has said he is trying to change player’s behavior, not just punish them. That makes sense and has seemed to have found much success – until the postseason. He appeared to take a hands-off approach when the playoffs started and that too has allowed player behavior to change. Predictably, for the worse. He may think he’s being consistent and using the same criteria as before, just ratcheting things back to not interfere with the playoff outcome – as suspending Shea Weber might have done, when this all seemed to snowball – but the inconsistency has sent the wrong message to players with predicable results.

slappy

Bigbad1@48
“I wonder how the players feel about their coach not taking any responsiblity for the PK performance.”

Read what Pavs says above – he tows TMs line 100%. Nice. Not. This is why I dont see #8 as being future Capt material. No courage to step a little off the Mr Goody 2 Shoes role even if it might help his team to win. Even if Pavs said something mildly critical of the PK design like “theres room for change in all areas of our team’s PK approach” this might get TM to tweak the PK design. Is TM going to bench Pavs for being mildly critical – a 30 goaler scorer for showing some spine?

Uncle Jefe

It’s not just losing faceoffs, it’s unnecessary icings as well.

slappy

For those who enjoy reading hockey material outside of WTC, heres a good one written with some choice examples of irony and sarcasm:

#53 slappy – Pavs has been brainwashed! We have to get him to a desensitizing or decontamination program (whatever the right word is – I don’t think I got it right). 🙂

JB

Tutone37, I don’t think keeping Kipper would have made a difference. He was mediocre at best in San Jose. I have always believed it was the trade to Calgary that triggered the change in him, and why he went on to have an excellent season and solid career there since. Trades really change some players and their games beyond just changing team situations.

JB

Snow, maybe the term you want is “deprogramming?”

slappy

Snow@56
Lol! Possibly. Or maybe hes just living up to DWs definition of “team” spirit and his support of TM . You gotta read Tim Kawakami’s column to inform yourself on that:

Forget the post-game Shanny suspensions, the on-ice officials have to take control of the game from the onset.

The post-whistle scrums are where the on-ice officials have to start handing out penaltys, aka “instigators”. Slap Hartnell with 2-minutes the first time he twists an opponents head around post-whistle and they will start to get the message …

Bob S

The Blues PK works for them because they have quick nimble skaters, the Sharks have caveman … an aggressive moving PK with cavemen on skates might be worse !!!

Wonderogre

“the PK is passive, but its not supposed to be passive to a fault. so basically TMac is saying its on the players as well.
…
if the players see a chance to seal the puck on the boards, they cant be afraid. they have to go after it.
…
i dont think the players are making the reads very well, they step off the blue line when they should stand it up, and let them control the zone from the first second of the PP.”

Here’s my problem with this line of reasoning: we’ve utilized this passive system (which is the defensive system as a whole, of which the PK is a part) for quite some time. If the level of passivity is indeed, as you think TM is claiming, to some degree the fault of the players, then the players have been messing it up for a really long time. If so, then: either the coaches are really bad at coaching it; or the coaches are fine but the players we have are hopeless and the team has failed to acquire the non-troglodytes necessary to pull it off properly; or there is some issue with the system that prevents the players from implementing it properly.

In any case, the problem isn’t reads and players getting out of position. It’s that against any team that can move the puck at a competent level, a passive system will eventually break down because it will allow a long time of in-zone possession. This is why the Sharks defense has statistically looked really good in the regular season in recent history – against mediocre and worse teams, you keep them to the periphery and allow shots only from the outside and look really good because they don’t have the skill to victimize you for waiting around. Against the best teams, who have the skill, you’re basically stuck playing ‘catch up’ the don’t look the same defensively in the playoffs. Its sort of a hockey version of a high percentage system (like the trap), except the percentage is skewed by the regular season.

“at even strength we are fairly in control of the game”

At even strength we are fairly in control of our side of the rink.

slappy

Bob S@61
“Slap Hartnell with 2-minutes”

Are you kidding me? Of all the low handed dirty post whistle/non whistle plays in the Flyers vs Penguins PO series, you focus on what Hartnell did? Hartnell is angel imo in comparison to Crosby, Neal, Asham, Adams to name but a few of the cheap and cheesy Penguins players and their dirt ball behavior in this series. I used to like the Penguins and their coaches but the thuggish and faux crybaby antics of the Penguins in this PO series have totally emptied me of any misguided respect I previously had for that team.

renoshark

Bob S,

The PK system and PK players in the system need an overhaul. With TMac coming back next year, it’s debateable how much, if any, the “system” gets changed. We’re more likely to see new faces in the system than the system itself changing much. TMac has a stubborn side and I don’t think he’ll change much in that area either.

Tom (fm Quinzee)

One thing I gotta disagree w/ is about Clowe or whomever at the Giants game. I’d have a big problem w/ the sleep cylce of a player who was in bed at 11 pm. Frankly, their body would be winding down at about 9, which, come to think of it, is what’s happening to the Sharks!!!

Seriously, though, going to a Giants game isn’t a problem. What I’d see as a problem is stuff like what Tim Hudson did the night before pitching game 5 against the Red Sox several seasons back. Go to a bar in Boston, where he ended the evening in a fight with Red Sox fan. Well, DUH, DUH, DUH! And “Huddy” got shelled the next night. “Golleee, Sargeant Carter, surprise, surprise, surprise.!!!!”

Ask Snow Shovel or LTNC or anyone else (like me) from that area if that fight was an accident. Any Red Sox fan would have taken a shot at the next day’s starting pitcher in a win-or-go-home situation. In the 1967 World Series, the Cardinals were staying at a motel in Quincy (aka Quinzee). You read that right, btw, a motel, not a 5-star hote. We went looking for them to give them **** (yeah, I’m old). Police guarding the place, couldn’t get near them.

Anyhow, if Clowe or any Shark goes to a Giants’ game, good for them. I’d prefer they go to something less boring than baseball, but that’s their choice.

Jersey Mako

After watching the Red Wings Preds game last night I now know what it is like for a goalie to steal a game in the playoffs. Awesome stuff from Rinne.

Wow. If that’s somewhat accurate, I like it. Welcome back Zus and Winnie!

ZEKE

ummmm — on the lines. Two steps forward — one step back.

Like swapping Couture and Marleau — neither guy was getting it done on their current line.

Do not like breaking up the Wingels, Desi, Winnik line. That line was working. I think a lot of us were more than ready to see Winchester and a well rested Handzus back in the line-up. No Galiardi or Moore? I’m fine with that.

slappy

reno@69
I wonder if Torres is challenging the Hawks to sit Hossa in Game 4 – which will be a very important game for the Hawks. Seems like Torres honestly believes his hit was not dirty and that Hossa has been cleared to play Game 4 and that the Hawks are bluffing about the severity of the hit. Shanahan does take significant injury to a player ( the victim has to miss games) into consideration when assessing the # of game suspensions to the player who inflicted the hit. It will be interesting to see how this matter will unfolds – will Hossa play or sit for Thursdays game?

“The hearing was planned for Wednesday but was deferred at the request of the player and NHL Players’ Association.-Phoenix leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 in Chicago on Thursday night.”

Andy

59, Slappy

After reading the Kawakami’s article I am really concerned. Does this now mean years of playoff failure, trading away prime draft picks, and acquiring overage useless players for the 49ers. If Baalke follows the Wilson mold the Niners are in trouble.

renoshark

Zeke,

It’s a start. TMac will mix and match those lines a bit more but I do think it’s an upgrade. Not sure why he didn’t make these changes weeks ago though.

Andy

As long as I see 12 and 17 in the lineup I see no reason to be optimistic

JB

I though he was suspended forever.

slappy

reno+Snow
I like PM centering the 2nd line and being re-united with Havlat. Those 2 had serious chemistry before and Clowe blended in well with them. Couture on JTs line – that might work better than PM because JT wasnt “seeing” PM at all for whatever reason. As another poster said before – PMs talents are being wasted as a “decoy” on the top line. JT might actually “see” #39 ( at least at first) because Couture might fight for JTs attention more than PM did. Snow – I agree about not splitting up “the 3rd” (production wise) line of winnick/desi/wingels. Id rather see our 4th line be centered by Zeus and have #17 and #10 as the wingers.

But hey guys -line changes before a game starts!!! – is very encouraging, even if its not exactly what we want! I like it. At least these players can practice together before Game 4. Better than the more typical TM approach to line changes ie multiple in-game player/line flip flops when the Sharks are losing.

If this game becomes all about speed, then I guess this game will eventually evolve to players getting younger every year and most older players will not be able to transition that quickly . So will this game become a boy’s game vs. a man’s game? I sure hope it doesn’t happen. I enjoy watching the experienced players work their craft and that usually comes from some years of experience.

Snow Shovel

Slappy – I think that was ZEKE and not me expressing his concerns about the ‘Third” Line.

ZEKE

@reno — yeah, I think its the right 12 guys and like others, kind of wonder why it took til game 4 to make that adjustment.

But I’ve been consistent on one thing, when I see guys who play with chemistry together, I want to keep them together. And that’s what I saw from Wingels, Desi and Winnik together — much more than the sum of their inexpensive parts. Why TMc wants to break up hat is working — thats what I can’t explain.

slappy

Andy@74
“If Baalke follows the Wilson mold the Niners are in trouble.”

Yeah that article’s sound bites from both GMs – kindred spirits – eek! -had me scratching my head and wondering about the true possibility of their teams ever winning trophies with their kinds of attitude.I like DW but after reading how he looks up to Baalke, I gotta wonder about DW. “They’re friends, they have nearly identical organizational philosophies, they bounce ideas off each other and maybe they’re rubbing off on each other a little.” Baalke was lucky Harbaughs wife has a high level position at Stanford so 49ers had a huge advantage at hiring Harbaugh. I wouldnt say it was Baalkes unique GM brilliance at noticing that Harbaugh would make a good NFL coach. And I love how both DW and Baalke are totally ( blind) rosey about the teams:

“”Like in a football game, you’ve got to adjust at halftime,” Wilson said Tuesday about the Sharks’ loss Monday and 2-1 series deficit against the St. Louis Blues. “We’ve got to make a couple of adjustments. I trust our coach (Todd McLellan).” Say what? Did TM make any meaningful adjustments at 1/2 time to warrant DWs strong endorsement? And then Baalke says “And Baalke said that, in many ways, Wilson serves as a model for running a team with blue-collar values and quiet confidence.” Who knew that the Sharks are a “blue collar” team? Sharks are a finesse elite team like the 49ers of the 80s early 90s imo. Sharks definitely appeal to the Bay Area chardonnay drinking fan base, who are not exactly a Flyers fanbase. But this quote really killed me most of all:
“But then Wilson said that the 49ers players showed their great character by standing behind Williams in the immediate aftermath.
And Wilson added that the chemistry stems from what Baalke and Harbaugh have built.” Sorry but Williams should not have been signed in the first place by Baalke. He had a spacey rep from college. Williams should not have been played in OT after his first mistake in regular game time. Thats on Harbaugh. And certainly only on a Bay area team like the 49ers or the Sharks would Williams not be cut immediately after the game and the 2 GMs hug each other for keeping a bad player on the team for another year. Just sayin’…DWs sound bites in this article kind of disappointed me. Too much politically correct blindness for my liking.

CforPavs

@Tom,

Loving your posts today. Especially the one about Crankshaft “cranking” some of his teamates in practice.

I’ve never thought of it, but that would probably work. The only thing to ever really get #12 going was when Calgary popped him 3 times in a row a few years back. They seemed to literally “wake” him up.

Honestly though, I’d pay more money to see Murray “crank” Patricia Marleau into next week during a scrimmage than to watch the Sharks in the playoffs at HP.

It sounds like some advertisers are getting concerned:
———
“They’re paying us a lot of money to associate with our brand,” said Collins who came to the NHL from the NFL. “So when our brand is under attack in the press on issues as serious as player safety, they want to know that the league is on top of it and has a plan for dealing with it and hear the league articulate it. That feedback is always going to be there.”

Have hockey’s violent incidents so far this spring had an impact on the league’s attempts to penetrate Corporate America?

“It affects the business, our ability to attract new fans, to grow the business, to attract other blue-chip advertisers and brands (who want) to associate with the games,” said Collins, who joined the NHL five years ago. “It also affects our ability to attract casual fans who maybe haven’t watched all year and now they’re hearing the buzz about the game.”
——-

OTOH, maybe they’ll just land some UFC sponsors. “The NHL, brought to you by Tapout!”

Torres needs to be gone forever. If not, and I hate to say it, someone needs to clean his clock on the ice so he cant ever come back. The dude is too dangerous. If he’s not gone forever you can count on a player taking it into his own hands.

Sharks PK is terrible because the players on the PK are positionally inept, their terrible at reading plays, they obviously dont communicate to tell each other where the opposing players are on the ice, and finally their isnt intelligent speed when pursuing an out of position player.

Sammy

I expect to see a better effort at staying out of the penalty box. If they can do that, and also improve on their power play, everything will be fine.

it’s just so easy. I should be a couch

Sammy

and by couch i mean coach. but i could also be a couch

Stevo

Nice Freudian slip there Sammy 😉

Now lay back down on that couch… and enjoy PHI closing out PIT. I hope.

The Sharks were too flat footed, passive and let the Blues setup way too easily. They’re not contesting 50-50 pucks. The Blues are constantly challenging the Sharks when shorthanded and they cause turnovers.

My biggest pet peeve on the PK is when the lead forward does that stupid arc move in front of the other teams net…that first forechecker has a few other options including: chasing the defender behind the net, stopping and reversing the other direction, or anything but that predictable arc move and then drifting back to the red line. When the first forechecker peels off, it opens up all kinds of options for the puck carrier…cross ice pass, stretch pass, carry to the red line and dump or pass, etc. etc…if you pressure the puck carrier in their zone and are less robotic and predictable, it makes it much harder for their PP to get setup.

The Sharks should have an aggressive PK with these forward combos:
Mitchell – Galiardi
Winnik – Moore
Marleau – Havlat